We are excited to announce that our Joint Venture, Leisnoi Professional Services KEMRON Joint Venture, LLC, was awarded the remedial action of the OU1 Residential Soils Remediation at Caney Residential Yards Superfund Site in Caney, KS.
This $16.8M award for three years includes the removal of lead-contaminated waste from approximately 500 residences. We are excited to start work on our latest award with EPA Region 7. We are committed to ensuring a safe environment for the affected communities.
KEMRON was awarded a project to package and remove approximately 575 containers of various sizes including lab packs, drums and vats from the Deptford Plating Site in Deptford, NJ under our EPA Region 2 ERRS contract.
Many of the containers are filled with hazardous substances associated with the plating wastes which included, acids, bases, cyanide, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, silver, lead, and various other metals.
In the fall of 2022, Leisnoi-KEMRON JV was awarded two projects through the USACE Fort Worth District to provide Programmatic Environmental Assessments (PEA) at 15 Army installations to support decisions on locating future weapons systems.
The PEAs will be performed pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and will include an analysis of baseline cultural and natural resources conditions and an evaluation of any environmental impacts.
Thank you to Edwards-Pitman, who will be our primary subcontractor.
In October 2022, KEMRON was awarded a subcontract through our 8(a) Protégé, Leisnoi, to install two extensions to the existing Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) Walls at Red River Army Depot (RRAD). These extensions will improve the performance of the PRB walls installed by KEMRON in 2007.
The PRB will be installed using long-reach excavators and will require hand excavation around several live utilities. KEMRON will also conduct performance groundwater monitoring in conjunction with the ongoing compliance groundwater monitoring program at RRAD.
Congratulations to Marilyn Zumbro for continuing to expand KEMRON’s work at RRAD.
In August 2022, KEMRON was awarded the $88.5M St. Louis Pre-placed Remedial Action Contract (PRAC) for projects in the Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) and for EPA Regions 5 and 7.
This contract will allow KEMRON to expand our ever-growing capabilities within the MVD and the Midwest.
KEMRON, under a five year, $85M task order under the Huntsville WERS contract is conducting multiple studies of Advanced Geophysical Classification system application at Fort Ord, California under a task order with the USACE Sacramento. The following information is a brief update on the findings and conclusions of recent and ongoing activities.
The Munitions with Sensitive Fuzes Field Study conducted at Range 48 at Fort Ord was designed to compare the performance of the Geonics EM61 and the White River Technologies OPTEMA Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC) system for locating 40mm HE projectiles in the near subsurface (0-12 inches bgs). DGM detection surveys were conducted with both the OPTEMA and EM61, and all detection targets were intrusively investigated to provide ground truth for the field study. The OPTEMA sensor was used in dynamic mode with dynamic data being used for anomaly detection. The detected target locations were then analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as targets of interest (TOI), which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. Detection targets not selected by the OPTEMA sensor but located by the EM61 were added to the OPTEMA target list to compile the final detection target list. Although a total of 11 acres were geophysically surveyed, because the anomaly density was found to be extremely high (2499 anomalies per acre) the area of investigation was subdivided into three (3) 25’x25’ grids that were used for the field study. A total of 412 DGM anomalies were selected as initial detection targets in these 3 grids. The dynamic OPTEMA AGC sensor data was then used to reduce the number of detection targets from 412 to 129 TOI. This is a 68.7% reduction in the number of targets that would need to be excavated in a production (non-field study) investigation. Of these 129 anomalies classified as potential TOI, a total of 44 MEC or MEC-like (inert) items were located.
The Munitions with Sensitive Fuzes Field Study conducted at Unit 23 at Fort Ord was designed to compare the performance of the Geonics EM61 and the Geometrics MetalMapper 2×2 (MM2x2) AGC system for locating 40mm HE projectiles in the near subsurface (0-12 inches bgs). DGM detection surveys were conducted with both the MM2x2 and EM61, and all detection targets were intrusively investigated to provide ground truth for the field study. The MM2x2 was used in both dynamic and cued mode, with dynamic data being used for initial anomaly detection. Cued MM2x2 measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. Detection targets not selected by the MM2x2 sensor but located by the EM61 were added to the MM2x2 target list to compile the final detection target list. A total of 1.1 acres were geophysically surveyed. A total of 1814 DGM anomalies were selected as initial detection targets. The MM2x2 classification analysis reduced the number of detection targets from 1814 to 375 TOI. This is a 79.3% reduction in the number of targets that would need to be excavated in a production (non-field study) investigation. Of these 375 anomalies classified as potential TOI, a total of 3 MEC and 6 MEC-like (inert) items were located.
The Risk Reduction in Units 11 and 12 conducted at Fort Ord was designed to remove large ordnance items (155mm and 8” projectiles) from the near subsurface (0-1 ft bgs and 0-2 ft bgs (area dependent)) prior to a controlled burn. This Risk Reduction used both the Geonics EM61 and the Geometrics Metal Mapper (MM) AGC system. The EM61 was used for initial anomaly detection over 468 acres that comprised Units 11 and 12. A total of 4625 anomalies were identified with the EM61 that were indicative of potential large MEC items (155mm and 8” projectiles) in the near subsurface. Cued MM measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. The MM classification analysis reduced the number of targets to be intrusively investigated from 4625 to 589. This is an 87.3% reduction in the number of targets requiring excavation. Of these 589 anomalies classified as potential TOI, a total of 237 MEC and MEC-like (inert) TOI were located. In addition to the recovered TOI, 437 non-TOI munitions items smaller than the risk reduction TOI were recovered from the intrusive investigation locations.
The Risk Reduction in Unit 23 conducted at Fort Ord was designed to remove large ordnance items (155mm and 8” projectiles) from the near subsurface (0-1 ft bgs and 0-2 ft bgs (area dependent)) prior to a controlled burn. This Risk Reduction used both the Geonics EM61 and the Geometrics MM2x2 AGC system. The EM61 was used for initial anomaly detection over 368 acres that comprised Unit 23. A total of 1217 anomalies were identified with the EM61 that were indicative of potential large MEC items (155mm and 8” projectiles) in the near subsurface. Cued MM2x2 measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. The MM2x2 classification analysis reduced the number of targets to be intrusively investigated from 1217 to 242. This is an 80.1% reduction in the number of targets requiring excavation. Intrusive investigation of the 242 anomalies classified as potential TOI is currently scheduled.
The Remedial Action at the area known as Broadway Bypass at Fort Ord was designed to locate and remove all MEC items to depth. This Remedial Action used the TEMTADS AGC sensor in both dynamic and cued mode over a 2 acre area. A total of 5021 detection anomalies were initially identified with the TEMTADS. Cued TEMTADS measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. The TEMTADS classification analysis reduced the number of targets to be intrusively investigated from 5021 to 2175. This is a 56.7% reduction in the number of targets requiring excavation. Of these 2175 anomalies classified as potential TOI a total of 50 MEC and MEC like (inert) items were located.
The Remedial Action at Unit B-2A at Fort Ord was designed to locate and remove 4.2-inch mortars to a depth of 18 inches bgs. This Remedial Action used the Geonics EM61 and the Geometrics MM2x2. The EM61 was used for initial anomaly detection over 73.5 acres that comprise Unit B-2A. A total of 749 anomalies were identified with the EM61 that were indicative of potential 4.2-inch mortars in the near subsurface. Cued MM2x2 measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. The MM2x2 classification analysis reduced the number of targets to be intrusively investigated from 749 to 69. This is a 90.8% reduction in the number of targets requiring excavation. Intrusive investigation of the 69 anomalies classified as potential TOI is in progress.
The Remedial Action at the Vernal Ponds at Fort Ord was designed to locate and remove all MEC items to depth. This Remedial Action used the Geonics EM61 and the Geometrics MM2x2. The EM61 was used for initial anomaly detection over 11 acres that comprised the Vernal Ponds. A total of 1007 anomalies were identified with the EM61 that were indicative of potential subsurface MEC. Cued MM2x2 measurements were then acquired at the detected target locations, and the cued data were analyzed to classify the anomaly sources as TOI, which would require intrusive investigation and removal, or non-TOI, which could be safely left in place. The MM2x2 classification analysis reduced the number of targets to be intrusively investigated from 1007 to 436. This is a 56.6% reduction in the number of targets requiring excavation. Intrusive investigation of the 436 anomalies classified as potential TOI is currently scheduled.
KEMRON was awarded and completed a $17.1 FFP remediation with performance-based remediation for the US Army at Fort Sheridan, an Army installation being closed under BRAC. KEMRON successfully managed 13 task areas which included regulatory agency negotiation, remedy selection, remedy implementation, LTM, O&M, construction, site documentation, community relations, and managing the Administrative Record. Under this contract, KEMRON was responsible for achieving RIP or RC for task areas. RC was achieved for seven task areas including an NFA DD for another task area which encompassed seven separate sites. For the additional task areas, KEMRON was responsible for implementing land use controls (LUC), closing monitoring wells and/or preparing an approved DD. For the RIP sites, KEMRON was responsible for LTM. KEMRON developed and received regulatory approval for site plans including safety plans and other reports and documents. In addition, KEMRON prepared all CERCLA documentation and the first CERCLA five-year review. The following is an overview of a few task areas.
KEMRON finalized the design and constructed a 13-acre RCRA Subtitle C cap over Landfills 6 & 7. The RCRA cap consists of multiple layers of geosynthetics, drainage layers, and low permeability clay. KEMRON also installed a leachate and gas collection system. The finished area is used as an open green field and hiking trail with prairie grasses, plants, shrubs and trees. KEMRON gained approval from IEPA, Army and the Navy to irrigate a 1.8-acre parcel using leachate collected from Landfills 6 & 7 as part of a pilot study for alternative disposal of leachate (compliant with EPA Region 2 Clean Program). The six-month study saved $50,000 in off-site disposal costs for the summer watering season. This pilot study, approved as a long-term disposal option, could ultimately save the Army approximately $2 million in life cycle costs over the next 30 years.
Five additional task areas included the demolition of a lead-based paint contaminated structure and the remediation of four areas with contaminated soils. KEMRON elected to meet residential standards on these five sites, thus eliminating the need for LTM and LUCs. KEMRON’s SOW required preparation of DDs. As a means to accelerate closure and gain immediate regulatory concurrent, KEMRON proposed to the BCT to prepare a non-time critical Action Memorandum instead. As a result, the approval time was cut dramatically and the remediation was completed a year ahead of schedule. The excavated soils were transported to the low areas in Landfill 6 & 7 as part of the required subgrade preparation beneath the liner, thus saving disposal costs.
KEMRON prepared the DD and design documents including LUCs for Landfill 5 and Coal Storage Area No. 3 (CSA3). The key design features of the 2.2-acre modified Subtitle C landfill cap on Landfill 5 included two feet of compacted clay overlying an impervious geosynthetic clay liner which included improvements to the existing storm water control system beneath the landfill, installation of a new perimeter drainage pipe, ravine slope stabilization, and elimination/realignment of the overhead utilities. The CSA3 consisted of excavation of PAH contaminated soils from remnants of the former CSA. The removal action was completed in and around residences which required coordination with homeowners. KEMRON managed a comprehensive community involvement program designed to keep the local residents informed and involved. KEMRON developed a project website to provide construction updates, pictures, and other information, providing immediate status to stakeholders.
One of the challenges at Fort Sheridan was the management of the remedial activities amid the concerns of multiple stakeholders. Although the Army maintains environmental liability on a majority of the site that has not already been transferred to the community, the Navy and Army Reserve now occupy all of the properties that were covered under this contract. As a result, it was necessary for KEMRON to ensure that the remedial approaches being proposed and conducted site-wide met the requirements of all of the multiple stakeholders to include the Navy, Army, AEC, USACHPMM, Reserve, the surrounding towns and the community.
As an EPA Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor since 2000, KEMRON has completed more than 100 projects ranging from small emergency response actions to the $25 million cleanup of the Former Woolfolk Chemical Works Superfund site. Working in the 20-state area of EPA Regions 3, 4 and 5, has constructed landfill caps, excavated contaminated soil, built and operated water treatments systems, decontaminated structures, responded to natural disasters, demolished equipment and structures, unearthed and removed buried drums, captured spills, responded to sunken vessels, responded to fires, treated hazardous waste sludge and conducted removal actions.
Selected experience includes:
Greenwood Chemicals Remediation, Greenwood, VA. KEMRON conducted a removal action at the former Greenwood Chemical Superfund site. There were two phases to this project. During Phase One of the project, treatment, transportation and disposal measures were employed on drums and cylinders collected from around the site and staged at a central location. The containers were sampled, hazcatted and placed into their appropriate waste groups. One hundred thirty-two containers were collected. Materials found included, acids, bases, flammables, oxidizers, and gas cylinders. All materials were packaged and transported offsite for disposal.
During Phase Two of the project, KEMRON was tasked with the remediation of three waste water lagoons contaminated with arsenic. A field office was established as part of this phase. Remedial actions included the dewatering of the lagoons, in-situ stabilization of sludge, and transportation and disposal of the material to an approved landfill. Over 400,000 gallons of water was pumped and treated through the onsite water treatment plant. After dewatering, the sludge was stabilized with quick lime and transported to a staging area. More than 8,200 tons of arsenic contaminated material were transported and disposed off-site.
Brewer’s Gold, SC. The USEPA Region 4 initially tasked KEMRON to perform wastewater treatment activities and to maintain erosion control measures. Wastewater is generated from two sources at the mine: (1) the former Brewer’s Pit and (2) the sedimentation pond. Wastewater is transferred to a lined 20 million gallon holding pond prior to treatment. Wastewater treatment at the site consisted of utilizing hydrated lime to make a slurry and inject it into the wastewater stream for pH adjustment and also allow for flocculation of heavy metals in the northwest trend (a former mined pit). Field Testing of wastewater was performed to determine slurry injection rates. Wastewater is treated in 5-6 million gallon batches. KEMRON operated and performed maintenance on all site equipment including wastewater treatment system and construction equipment and process piping. After the water settles, the super nantant is transferred to the fresh water holding ponds and then discharged into Little Fork Creek. KEMRON collected influent and effluent wastewater samples on a monthly basis to determine effectiveness of wastewater treatment activities and also to determine creek loading rates for discharge to Little Fork Creek. Approximately 80 million gallons of wastewater was treated during the first year of operation.
The historical utilization of storing sludge in the northwest trend started to pose a threat of breaching free board space. KEMRON performed a treatability study to determine if the sludges could be treated onsite. KEMRON determined that drying the sludge was the most cost-effective treatment. KEMRON engineered a sludge pumping system that allowed sludge removal while not interrupting wastewater treatment operations. KEMRON engineered, designed and constructed six drying beds at the site and engineered a pumping system to transfer the sludges to the drying beds. KEMRON removed and treated approximately 7.1 million gallons of sludge at the site. The removal of the sludges created greater free board space and allowed for larger batch treatment of wastewater. The advantage of on-site treatment has resulted in a cost savings of approximately $250,000 when compared to off-site removal and disposal.
Additionally, KEMRON was tasked with construction of a 12-inch cap over a five-acre area. The deposits of metals that were in the run-off from this hill side were contributing to erratic spikes in the Ph levels andre-treatment prior to discharge was quite costly. KEMRON excavated and placed 67,000 yards of clay material on the cap area. A drainage ditch at the base of the cap was installed and encompasses the pond footage of approximately 2,970 feet.
Lead Remediation, Portsmouth, Virginia. Under its Region 3 ERRS, KEMRON completed remediation of lead contaminated soil from residential and commercial properties located in Portsmouth, VA. Lead limits exceed 5000 ppm in some areas and lead was removed to 270 ppm to meet state requirements. EPA established vertical and horizontal delineation of lead in affected properties prior to KEMRON mobilization. KEMRON was responsible for removal of contaminated soil to the predetermined horizontal extent and depths. Work was completed with mini excavators and skid steer loaders and by hand due to close quarters around houses and in back yards. Soil was loaded into dump trucks and disposed of at a local Subtitle D landfill. Clean backfill was brought to the sites and placed within four inches of original grade. The top four inches was finished with topsoil to restore the site to its pre-remediation condition. Sod was placed and maintained by KEMRON until one mowing occurred. A water trailer was used to irrigate the grass until it was firmly established.
Work was coordinated with USEPA’s START contractor providing confirmation sampling once the excavation was complete followed by the backfill crew once sample confirmation released the property in order to backfill the sites as quickly as possible. Residents were relocated to near temporary housing locations to limit exposure to dust generated during remediation activities. Digital photographic records of all sites, pre and post remediation, were made along with documentation of the access agreement,actual work completed, disposal documentation, and restoration activity records.
Emergency Response (Marine Operations), Showboat Lounge Marina Fire, Deland, FL. KEMRON was tasked with mitigating the impact of a marina fire on the St. John’s River that resulted in the sinking of 27 vessels. KEMRON crews placed hard and soft boom across the entrance to the marina and other slips preventing the fuel from impacting other boats in the harbor. Once the spill was contained, crews used vacuum trucks to remove product caught behind the booms. Realizing the source of much of the fuel and oil was the sunken boats, the EPA decided to recover the fuel tanks from the sunken vessels. An underwater salvage diving company was contracted and a 125-ton crane was brought to the site to remove the boats. Because of heavy damage, the boats were brought to the surface where crews removed the fuel prior to disposal.
Swainsboro Electroplating Facility, GA. KEMRON under contract to the USEPA Region 4 was issued a task order to perform facility decontamination and dismantlement at the Swainsboro Electroplating facility located in Swainsboro. This 60,000 square feet metal electroplating facility contained numerous vats, drums, carboys, totes and miscellaneous small containers of acids, caustics and cyanide contaminated solids and liquids. KEMRON was tasked with sampling, testing, bulking and disposal of the materials. The interior of the building was initially stabilized by checking all containers for leaks and potential weep points, pumping and cleaning of the trenches and sumps and removal of floor debris from walk areas. Approximately 300 containers were sampled and haz-cat tested, including; 91 drums, 53 carboys, 4 liquid totes, 20 totes of solids, 11 pails and 140 vats. KEMRON performed bulking operations of compatible material that included 32,500 gallons of acid waste, 19,500 gallons of caustic waste, and 4,700 gallons of cyanides. All containers that were empty were pressured washed and poly and fiberglass containers were tripled rinsed and cut up for disposal as non-hazardous. Approximately 5,000 liner feet of primary process piping were pumped out and flushed with water, dismantled and shipped to a recycling facility. All small process lines from vat systems were dismantled and the lines cut to less than 3 feet for disposal as hazardous waste. The wash water was collected in a temporary storage tank and approximately 15,000 gallons was shipped for wastewater treatment. The stabilized sludge once it passed paint filter was loaded into 25 cubic yard roll off containers and shipped as hazardous waste. The waste water treatment plant was emptied of all contents and cleaned and destroyed. All sumps were pumped down and 1 foot of sludge was removed. The 10 drums of non cyanide lab pack containers were shipped off site. The majority of all work was performed in Level B personnel protection.
